Williams Backs Underrated Holloway

Crystal Palace midfielder Jonny Williams has backed his manager Ian Holloway and claimed that the 50-year old doesn’t get the credit that he deserves.

Williams was clear that the credit for his own outstanding season and Palace’s fantastic run to promotion should go straight to Holloway. “He is amazing. From the first day he joined I was injured but the belief he gave me that I was going to come back and I was going to be involved was first class and gave me confidence to come back and to play like I did,” said the 19-year old, who missed much of his debut season in 2011-12 with a broken leg.

Holloway gained a reputation as a comedian during his last stint in the Premier League, with Blackpool, after a series of bizarre rants and interviews, but Williams is clear that far more focus should be placed on his tactical nous than on his witty one-liners. “He is a bit of a tactical genius – in all the play-off games they were just spot-on, the tactics, and worked a treat,” said the Wales international. “But along with all the jokes and funniness, he is a great manager and very knowledgeable of the game and it is great to have him,” he added.

Holloway has done fantastically well to secure a second promotion to the Premier League through the play offs but just like his last tilt at the big time with Blackpool he will know that his team will be favourites to go straight back down. Unfortunately for him, his tactical know how wasn’t enough to keep the Seasiders in the Premier League for more than a season and, unless he is able to recruit well, it won’t be enough to keep the Eagles there either.